University at Albany defensive coordinator Mike Simpson decided that rebuilding the team's linebacking corps meant more to him than keeping the position he had held since 1989.

UAlbany announced on Friday that Simpson, the architect of a defense that helped win at least a share of six Northeast Conference titles, is stepping down to become the team's linebackers coach.

In a corresponding move, defensive backs coach Drew Christ is being promoted to defensive coordinator.

Simpson, whose responsibilities already included working with the linebackers, said he wanted to focus his undivided attention on that area because the Great Danes graduated Dave Plungas, Chris Wilk, Chris Bouchard and all-NEC selection Jon Morgan.

"Usually, I'll have one or two linebackers coming back that have some pretty decent experience and I can still split my time a little more between being a coordinator and coaching linebackers," Simpson said. "It was never an issue. This year, I graduated four senior linebackers, three of which were starters for me. This is by far, in all my years there, the youngest linebackers we have coming back."

Simpson is entering his 28th season on the staff of UAlbany head coach Bob Ford, the past 23 as defensive coordinator.

The Great Danes are moving into the Colonial Athletic Association next season, a better league than the NEC. Simpson said he needed more time to prepare his inexperienced linebackers for the challenge.

Simpson, 57, and Ford both stressed the decision was Simpson's and is not a demotion.

Last season, UAlbany's rushing defense ranked first in the NEC and 14th in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision at 117.9 yards per game.

The Great Danes allowed 22.7 points per game, second fewest in the NEC. UAlbany tied with Wagner for the NEC regular-season title.

"I really have appreciated Mike's contribution through the years here," Ford said. "Not that Mike's getting ready to retire. At the same time, he's closing on 60 and that position, those offensive and defensive coordinators, or a head coach, takes its toll. I think Mike just felt this was a time to step down while we were going with some young kids and seeing if he could devote more attention to them."

Christ, 37, in his eighth season with UAlbany, has previously served as defensive coordinator at the University of Rochester. He said he won't make "a wholesale of changes" to the defense.

Simpson said he will miss being in charge of the entire defensive unit.

"No question," he said. "I will miss it just because it's so much a part of me because I've done it for so long. That will take some adjusting to, but you know what? Life is made of adjustments, right?"